FAIRCHILD HILLER FH1100 PLT HAS A BIRD STRIKE AND MAKES A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG.

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I DEPARTED FROM A PVT HELIPORT IN FL; TO THE S AND CLBED SBOUND. ONCE XING OVER THE INTERCOSTALS; I TURNED WBOUND ALONG WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE SOUND SIDE (N SIDE) OF NAVARRE BEACH. SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF; I HEARD A NOISE (OR THUMP) AS IF SOMETHING HIT THE ACFT. I IMMEDIATELY ENTERED A DSCNT TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG TO AN UNPOPULATED SECTION OF THE BEACH. DURING THE DSCNT; I MONITORED ALL INSTS; AND FOUND NOTHING TO BE ABNORMAL; SO I CONTINUED THE APCH AND BEGAN TO BRING THE HELI TO A HOVER AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL AND PERFORM A NORMAL LNDG. AT THIS POINT EVERYTHING APPEARED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY UNTIL THE HELI DECELERATED BELOW A SPD THAT THE VERT STABILIZER WOULD HAVE EFFECT. AT THAT TIME THE HELI BEGAN TO YAW TO THE R; SO I DECIDED TO ROLL THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AND PERFORM A HOVERING AUTOROTATION TO THE LNDG SITE. AFTER COMPLETING AN ACFT SHUTDOWN; I EXITED THE ACFT AND BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE THE PROB. I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX HAD BEEN SEVERED FROM THE ACFT; AND REALIZED THAT THE PELICAN BIRDS THAT WERE IN THE VICINITY OF MY FLT PATH MIGHT HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR; CAUSING ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE TO DEPART FROM THE TAIL ROTOR ATTACHING POINT; AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED THE REMAINING TAIL ROTOR BLADE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR GUARD. ONCE THIS HAPPENED; THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE IMPACTING THE GUARD CAUSED THE GEAR BOX TO SEVER FROM THE TAIL. I THINK IN THIS SITUATION; EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN FLYING IN THE VICINITY OF BEACHES. BIRDS HAVE TENDENCIES FOR SOME REASON TO DIVE ON ACFT OR COLLIDE WITH THEM. IN MY SITUATION I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SET THE HELI DOWN WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE; AND IN AN AREA WHERE THERE WERE NO PERSONS ON THE BEACH.